PROVIDENCE – Coastal Medical, Rhode Island’s largest physician-owned and physician-governed primary care group practice, has announced that Pawtucket-based Hillside Family and Community Medicine, and Narragansett-based South County Family Medicine have signed agreements to join the Coastal practice.

According to a release, both primary care groups are high-quality practices and early adopters of the “patient-centered medical home” model of care.

Coastal said that while the practices names may chance slightly, “their locations and commitment to patient-centered care will not change,” adding that many services for patients will now be expanded.

Hillside Family and Community Medicine is located at 727 East Ave. in Pawtucket and is the largest family medicine practice in Rhode Island. The six-physician group has been providing care to patients for 20 years.

“We decided to merge with Coastal because our two organizations have, independently, been moving and transforming ourselves in similar ways around the PCMH and practice transformation model of care. We share values and complement each other’s efforts” Hillside’s Dr. Kenneth Sperber said in prepared remarks.

“Also, in this effort we have really moved as far forward as we could as an independent practice and we are, justifiably I think, proud of our accomplishments. Joining with the foundation Coastal has laid towards building a true ACO brings us additional resources to continue that work and that vision, together with Coastal,” added Sperber.

South County Family Medicine, which will change its name to Coastal Narragansett Family Medicine, is a four-physician practice located at 360 Kingstown Rd. in Narragansett.

“We wanted to join because Coastal physicians spoke highly of the improved administrative efficiency in their practices, which allows them more time to focus on patient care,” Catherine DeGood, of Narragansett Family Medicine, said in a statement.

“The Coastal mission statement encompasses what our office has been striving for on a small scale. With the help of Coastal’s infrastructure, we will better reach our goals of patient-centered, cost-efficient, high-quality health care in a collaborative environment,”

These mergers come at a time when many small medical groups are grappling with decisions about the future of their practices. “We are a unique option for practices.” Coastal President and CEO Dr. Al Kurose said in a statement.

“Physicians who merge with Coastal become owners of a very successful patient-centered and physician-run organization. They have the opportunity to truly decide what their futures will look like. The infrastructure we provide sets them up for success,” he said. “We are pleased to have these two very high-quality Family Medicine groups join Coastal.”

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